Coin-operated time cycle device



Dec. 17, 1963 R. w. NEW 3,114,443

COIN-OPERATED TIME CYCLE DEVICE Fild April 28, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W New 33 INVENTOR.

Dec. 17, 1963 R. w. NEW

COIN-OPERATED TIME CYCLE DEVICE INVENTOR.

it 277'0F/V} J 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /F. W New Filed April 28, 1960 Dec. 17, 1963 R. w. NEW

COIN-OPERATED TIME CYCLE DEVICE INVENTOR.

ATTOfi/VZVI /4. W New 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 28, 1960 United States Patent 3,114,443 COIN-QPERATED Till/1E CYQLE DEVICE Russel W. New, Dallas, Tera, assignor to Meter-All Mi Co., Inc.. Dallas, Tex, a corporation of Texas Filed Apr. 28, lljdll, Ser. No. 25,286 6 Claims. (Cl. lQ-t -d) This invention relates to a coin-operated device for use in stmting and then stopping a machine, such as a clothes washer or dryer, after a predetermined time cycle.

Machines of this type are frequently installed at locations where they are handled by personnel who are either inexperienced or disinterested in their proper care. Ordinarily, they must be started and stopped by the turning of knobs, levers or other parts which are particularly susceptible to damage. An object of this invention is to provide an improved device for starting such machines and then stopping them after a predetermined time cycle automatically in response to the deposit of one or more coins. The more particular objects of the invention are to provide such a device which is easily and readily adjustable in a manner to change the number of coins required to start the cycle; which has a simplified arrangement for changing the duration of the time cycle; and which has a compact switching arrangement for initiating and terminating the cycle.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon consideration of the written specification, the attached claims and the annexed drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used throughout to designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device, as seen along broken line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a central part of the device upon an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ratchet and cam discs shown in section in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a modified form of cam disc;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire device, as

\ seen from above and to the left of MG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the device, as it is seen in the perspective view of FIG 6.

Turning now to the details of the above-described device, it comprises a housing 1h having a bottom wall it and oppositely disposed side walls 12. and 13 extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The open sides and top of the housing may be closed by additional walls, although the structure shown is sufficient for the purposes of this description in that it supports the components of the device to be described below.

These components comprise, in general, a solenoid 14 which is responsive to the deposit of a coin for moving a disc 25 a predetermined distance dependent upon the location of a rod 292. Another disc 33 is movable with the disc 26 between a first position when the machine to be operated is at rest and a second position in which a cam surface on its periphery cooperates with a switch 35 connected to thermachine to start its cycle of operation. The cycle is timed by means of a motor 37 which is also started by the switch 35 to move a part 43 a distance proportional to the aforementioned movement of the cam disc 33.

During such movement, the timer part 43 engages a part 42 on the cam disc 33 to move it to another position in which its cam surface cooperates with the switch 35' to stop the cycle of operation of the machine as well as the timer motor. In this last-mentioned position, the cam disc is disposed for movement from the first 3,1l4gli3 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 ice 2 to the second position so that, upon the deposit of a coin, the aforementioned components are again operative to start and stop another timed cycle.

The location of the rod 22, and thus the movement of the discs 26 and 33, may be adjusted so as to vary the time required for the timer part 43 to engage part 42 and move the disc 33. lhus, it is possible to change the length of the cycle responsive to the deposit of a single coin. Also, when a modified cam disc 44 replaces the disc 33, the cam surfaces thereon make it possible to adjust the position of the rod 22 in a manner to change the number of coins required to start a cycle of predetermined duration. That is, the cam surfaces of the disc 44 are so for-med that they cooperate with the switch 35 to start the cycle only upon an accumulated movement of the disc 2.6 responsive to the deposit of a predetermined number of coins.

The solenoid 14, which is of any well known rotary type, is mounted within the housing intermediate the side walls 12 and 13. As shown in the drawings, it includes a base 15 which is secured to the bottom wall l l by means of plates =16. A coil 17 is carried by the base in surrounding relation to an armature l8 depending from an arm 19 extending across the coil. This arm is keyed to a pin 2% at one end (see FIG. 3), and the pin is mounted upon the base of the solenoid for pivoting or swinging with the arm about a horizontal xis.

When the solenoid is energized, by mean to be described hereinafter, the armature 18 is retracted into the position within the coil shown in the drawings. However, upon deenergization of the solenoid, the arm 19 and pin are swung about their pivotal connection by means of a coil spring 21 to at least partially withdraw the armature. As best shown in FIG. 7, this spring is anchored at one end to the pin 20 and at the other end on the base of the solenoid. More particularly, this coil spring normally urges the arm to an extended position with a force which, however, is overcome by the effect of the coil 1'7 upon energization of the solenoid. This upward swinging of the arm 19 and consequent withdrawal of the armature 18 is limited by engagement of the arm with the rod 22 which extends between the side walls 12 and 13 of the housing.

The solenoid 14 is energized by a coin mechanism ltlll of any conventional construction well known in this art, such as one manufactured 'by National Rejectors, Inc. More particularly, the mechanism 1% includes a coin chute ldl through which a coin can be dropped to actuate a switch 192 to cause a pulse of very short duration to pass through the coil 17 when a coin of given denomination is deposited within the slot. This momentary pulse will first retract the armature 18 into the position shown in the drawings and then release it for withdrawal, upon upward swinging of the arm 19 under the influence of the spring 2 1, into a position determined by the location of the rod 22.

As best shown in FIG. 3, a boss 27 formed centrally of the disc as has an axial opening 23 therethrough which receives at one end a stub shaft 29 formed axially of pin 2d opposite the end about which the spring 21 is disposed, such that the disc and arm are rotatable coaxially of one another. A pawl 23 carried on one side of the arm 19 has a finger 24 for engagement with ratchet teeth 25 about the periphery of-the disc 26, which teeth, as best shown in FlG. 7 face in a direction opposite to the rotation of the arm 19 as it swings upwardly under the influence of spring .21. Thus, the finger 24 will engage the teeth to rotate the disc 2.6 in a counterclockwise direction (as shown by the arrow in FIG. 7) when the solenoid is deenergized.

On the other hand, the pawl 23 is formed of a springlike material, such as thin metal, to permit the finger 24 thereof to slide over the hack sides of the ratchet teeth as the armature 18 is retracted when the solenoid is energized by deposit of a coin. For this purpose, another finger 30 is carired by the housing in a position to engage the front sides of the ratchet teeth 25 along the bottom side of the disc 26 and thereby prevent retrograde movement of the disc in a clockwise direction when the solenoid is energized. This finger also has spring-like characteristics to permit forward or counterclockwise rotation of disc 26.

To summarize, prior to the deposit of a coin in the slot of the mechanism previously described, the arm 19 will be engaged with the rod 22 and the armature at least partially withdrawn from the coil. Then, upon the deposit of a coin, the solenoid 14 is energized to retract the armature 18 and thus swing the arm 19 downwardly. During this downward swinging of the arm, the disc 26 is prevented by finger 30 from rotating in a clockwise direction as the spring finger 24 rides in a clock- Wise direction over the back of the ratchet teeth 25 to a position for engaging in front of a new tooth.

This retraction of the armature is only momentary, however, and the arm 19 is almost immediately swung Iback upwardly under the influence of the spring 21 and into engagement with the rod 22. During this return movement, the finger 24 will be in engagement with the new tooth to rotate the ratchet disc in a counterclockwise direction through an angle equal to the angle through which the arm 19 is rotated. During this rotation of the disc 26, the finger 30 will merely slide over the back of the ratchet teeth 25 into a position for establishing a bite with another tooth, when the rotation of the disc is stopped, for preventing retrograde movement of the wheel upon the subsequent energization of the solenoid and further counterclockwise rotation of said disc.

The location of the rod 22 is adjustable by means of a series of holes 31 and 32 in the plates 12 and 13, respectively, for receiving its opposite ends. More particularly, these holes are arranged in paths concentrically of the axis of rotation of the disc 26, and are spaced apart distances corresponding to the spacing of the ratchet teeth 25. Thus, for example, there may be thirty-six teeth about the disc 26, in which case each tooth would represent degrees of rotation of the disc. At the same time, adjacent holes 31 and 32 may be angularly spaced apart 10 degrees or some multiple thereof, such as degrees, degrees, etc. Obviously, the maximum rotation of the disc is possible when the rod is held in the leftmost holes shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, while only the minimum rotation is permitted when the rod is in the rightmost holes. Thus, for example, with the teeth and holes each angularly spaced apart 10 degrees, the rod could be disposed in the rightmost hole to limit the disc to a 10 degree rotation, the next set of holes in order to limit it to a 20 degree rotation, etc.

The disc 33 is integral with the disc 26 for coaxial rotation therewith and has cams 34 equally spaced about its periphery. As best shown in FIG. 4, these cams have concave surfaces which are separated by peaks 34a and correspond in number and angular disposition to the ratchet teeth 25. The switch 35 is mounted upon the side wall 12 of the housing in any suitable manner, and has an actuator arm 36 thereon disposed for engagement with the earns 34. This switch may comprise a microswitch of any well known commercial construction wherein the actuator arm 36 serves to close a circuit to which the switch is connected when extended with respect to the box of the switch, and to open the circuit when retracted with respect thereto. When the end of'the arm 36 lies within the deeper central portion of the concavity of a cam 34, it will the extended to close the circuit, and when it rides up upon a side of the cam surface, it will be retracted to open the circuit. As previously mentioned, this switch 35 is connected in the circuit to the washer, dryer or other machine to be started and stopped, as well as the timer motor 37, which will be described in detail hereinafter. Thus, when the actuator arm is extended to close the switch, the machine and the timer motor 37 are started, and when the arm is retracted to open the switch, the machine as well as the timer are stopped.

Prior to the deposit of a coin in the device, the end of the actuator arm 36 will lie on the trailing side of the concave surfaces of a cam 34, such that the switch 35 will be open. However, when a coin is deposited, the disc 26 and thus the disc 33 are rotated an angular distance, as previously described, to another position in which the end of the actuator arm moves into the deeper portion of another cam surface to permit closing of the switch and thus starting of the machine as well as the timer motor 37.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the timer motor is secured to the outside of the side wall '12, it being understood that it as well as the machine (not shown) would be wired to the switch 35 for starting and stopping in the manner described. As well known in this art, the motor will, upon starting, initiate the running of a clock (not shown) having a suitable drive connection with a shaft 38 for rotating same. As shown in FIG. 7, a collar 39 is keyed to the shaft for extension through a hole 40 in the side wall 12 of the housing so that it will rotate within the housing intermediate such Wall and the cam disc 33. More particularly, as best shown in FIG. 3, the inner end of the collar 39 has a stub shaft 41 which fits closely within the opening 28 through the boss 27 of the disc 26, thereby aligning the collar for rotation coaxially of the discs 26 and 33.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pin 42 extends laterally outwardly from the side of the boss 27 and into the path of movement of another pin 43 which projects radially outwardly from the collar 39. Thus, when the timer motor is started, the shaft 38, collar 39 and pin 43 are rotated in the same direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 7) that the pin '42 has been rotated with the disc 33. When the pin 43 engages the pin 42, further rotation of the collar will continue to rotate the cam disc 33 a slight distance in the counterclockwise direction. This will cause the end of the actuator arm 36 to ride up on the trailing side of the surface of the cam in which it has rested in its extended position. In this way, the arm is forced inwardly to retracted position to open the switch 35 and thereby stop the machine and the timer motor, as well as rotation of collar 39. As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, this time cycle will therefore be proportional to the distance which the discs 26 and 33 are rotated, which, as previously described, is adjustable by means of the rod 22. For example, the timer motor 37 may be so constructed that the aforementioned 10 degree rotation of the disc 33 will provide a ten minute cycle, the 20 degree rotation a twenty minute cycle, etc.

Reviewing now the over-all operation of the device, the pin 43 will be behind and in engagement with the pin 42, as shown in FIG. 3, prior to the deposit of a coin. Then, upon deposit of the coin, the cam disc 33 will be rotated to advance the pin 42 ahead of the pin 43 in a counterclockwise direction. This movement of the disc 33 also causes the actuator arm 36 to be extended to close the switch 35 in order to start the machine and the timer motor. When the timer motor starts, the collar 39 and thus the pin 4-3 are rotated at a predetermined speed in the same direction as the disc 33 was rotated. Upon the expiration of a period of time proportional to the distance which the pin 42 has been advanced ahead of the pin 43, the latter will engage pin 42 and thereby rotate the cam disc 33 an amount sutficient to force the arm 36 into a retracted position to open the switch 35, thereby stopping the machine and the timer motor.

When the disc 33 is rotated an angular distance greater than 10 degrees, or more than one cam 34-, the actuator arm 36 in moving into the deep central portion of the first cam to be traversed, may momentarily close the switch 35 even though the disc is being rotated at a high speed. For this purpose, microswitch 50 mounted on the side wall 13 of the housing by means of a plate 51 has an actuator arm 52 disposed in a position to be engaged by a plate 53 mounted on the arm 19 of the solenoid. The location of the switch is adjustable in any suitable manner so that when arm 19 has rotated into a positon to engage the rod 22, the plate 53 has depressed the actuator arm 52 to close the switch, in a manner similar to closing of the switch 35. When a coin is deposited in the slot of the device, and the armature 1% is retracted to swing the arm 19 downwardly, the plate 53 moves away from the arm 52 so that the switch is opened.

This switch 50 is wired in series with the switch 35 so that, despite the momentary extension of the actuator arm 36 during initial movement of the cam disc 33, the switch 35 will remain open until completion of the rotation of the disc as determined by movement of arm 19 into engagement with the rod 22. That is, the cam switch 35 can open and close without operating the machine and timer motor during this intermediate interval. Then, when the arm 19 has so moved into engagement with the rod 22, the plate 53 will depress the actuator arm 52 to close the switch 50, whereby the switch 35 is effective to start the machine as well as the timer motor for the purposes previously described.

The modified cam disc 44 shown in FIG. 5 may be formed integrally with a ratchet disc similar to that shown at 26 in the other figures of the drawings or, in the alternative, the ratchet and cam discs may be releasably secured to one another to permit the cam discs 33 and 44 to be interchangeably used with a single ratchet disc. In any case, and as will be described below, this modified cam disc enables the device previously described to be converted to one in which the machine may be started and then stopped upon the deposit of any desired number of coins. More particularly, this cam disc, together with the rod 22, enables the number of coins required for starting the machine on a certain time cycle to be changed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the concave cam surfaces 44a on the periphery of the disc 44 are separated by a greater angular distance than those of the disc 33. For example, as indicated in FIG. 5, the centers of adjacent cam surfaces 44a may be separated by an angle of 60 degrees. Thus, it would be necessary to rotate the ratchet disc 26 through an angle of 60 degrees, or the equivalent of six ratchet teeth 25, in order to start the machine once it has been stopped. This could be accomplished by the deposit of a single coin by the location of the rod 22 in the leftmost holes 31 and 32 shown in FIG. 7, which position, as previously described, enables a 60 degree rotation of the pivotal arm 19 of the solenoid 14. On the other hand, and in accordance with the present invention, the rod 22 could be located in the middle holes to permit only a 30 degree rotation of the arm and discs upon the deposit of a single coin, in which case two coins would have to be deposited in order to start the machine. Still further, the rod 22 could be so positioned that the deposit of a single coin would bring about only a 20 degree rotation of the arm and discs, in which case three such coins would have to be deposited in order to start the machine.

The periphery of the cam disc 44 is provided with a series of shallow depressions 45, 46 and 47 intermediate the cam surfaces 44a. As indicated in FIG. 5, the depression 46 is located to receive the end of the actuator arm 36 of the switch 35 upon a 30 degree rotation of the disc, but is not deep enough to permit sufficient retraction of the arm to close the switch 35. However, it is sumciently deep to aid in preventing overtravel of the discs as they are rotated by means of the finger 24. As also indicated in FIG. 5, the depressions 45 and 47 will provide similar functions when the rod 22 is so located as to provide for 20 degree rotations of the disc upon the deposit of each coin. Of course, the disc 44 is provided with a pin (not shown), similarly to that described in connection with and for the same purpose as the pin 42 on the disc 33.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1. A coin-operated time cycle device, comprising a part movable a predetermined distance in one direction in response to the deposit of one or more coins in said device, a switch cooperable with the movable part to start a time cycle when said part has been moved said predetermined distance and to stop said cycle when said part is moved a further distance in said one direction, a timer adapted to be started by the start of the cycle and stopped by the end of said cycle, and a part carried by the timer for engagement with said first-mentioned part to move it said further distance upon the termina tion of a period of time proportional to the predetermined distance said first-mentioned part is moved said timer part being effectively disengaged from said firstmentioned part after the latter has been moved said predetermined distance and until expiration of said period of time.

2. A coin-operated time cycle device comprising a part movable a predetermined distance in one direction in response to the deposit of one or more coins in said device, a switch having an actuating member movable to open and close the switch, said part having a switch operating portion causing said switch actuating member to move to close the switch upon the part moving said predetermined distance and upon the part moving a further distance in said one direction causing the switch operating member to move to open the switch whereby movement of the part in a single direction causes opening and closing of the switch, a timer connected to the switch so as to be actuated when the switch is closed and to be shut off when the switch is opened, an abutment movable by the timer in said one direction and an abutment carried by the movable part in the path of movement of the timer abutment whereby upon said part being moved said predetermined distance, the part abutment is moved away from the timer abutment so that the timer can move its abutment during a predetermined time interval toward the part abutment and upon engaging same, the timer moves the part said further distance to open the switch and shut off the timer.

3. A coin-operated time cycle device comprising a disc rotatable a predetermined distance in one direction responsive to the deposit of one or more coins in said device, a switch having an actuating member movable to open and close the switch, said disc having cam surfaces thereabout operable upon rotation of the disc through said predetermined distance to cause the switch to close and upon further rotation in said one direction causing the switch to open whereby rotation of the disc in a single direction causes opening and closing of the switch, a timer connected to the switch so as to be actuated when the switch is closed and to be shut off when the switch is opened, an abutment movable by the timer in said one direction and an abutment carried by the disc in the path of movement of the timer abutment whereby upon said disc being rotated said predetermined distance, the disc abutment is moved away from the timer abutment so that the timer can move its abutment during a predetermined time interval toward the disc abutment and upon engaging same, the timer moves the disc said further distance to open the switch and shut off the timer.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said cam surfaces are in the form of teeth on the disc, the switch actuating member being disposed in the valley between succeeding teeth when the switch is closed and riding up on the flank of a tooth upon rotation of said disc through said further rotation so as to thereby open the switch.

5. A coin-operated time cycle device comprising a coin-operated mechanism for causing an electric pulse responsive to deposit of a coin therein, a timer, switch means arranged to start the timer, a rotatable disc carrying means movable between a plurality of positions for actuating the switch means, means responsive to each electrical pulse for rotating the disc, and means for adjusting the number of pulses required to rotate the disc a distance sufiicient to actuate the switch means whereby the switch means is actuated only upon a selected number of pulses being applied to said disc rotating means.

6. A coin-operated time cycle device comprising a coin-operated mechanism for causing an electrical pulse responsive to deposit of a coin therein, a timer, switch means arranged to start the timer, a part carrying means for actuating the switch means and being movable to actuate the switch means, means responsive to each electrical pulse for moving said part, and means located between a plurality of positions for adjusting the number of pulses required to move said part a distance sufficient to actuate the switch means whereby the switch means is actuated only upon a selected number of pulses being applied to said means for moving said part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,106,042 Stark Jan. 18, 1938 2,410,708 Breither Nov. 5, 1946 2,672,969 Greenwald Mar 23, 1954 

1. A COIN-OPERATED TIME CYCLE DEVICE, COMPRISING A PART MOVABLE A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE IN ONE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO THE DEPOSIT OF ONE OR MORE COINS IN SAID DEVICE, A SWITCH COOPERABLE WITH THE MOVABLE PART TO START A TIME CYCLE WHEN SAID PART HAS BEEN MOVED SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE AND TO STOP SAID CYCLE WHEN SAID PART IS MOVED A FURTHER DISTANCE IN SAID ONE DIRECTION, A TIMER ADAPTED TO BE STARTED BY THE START OF THE CYCLE AND STOPPED BY THE END OF SAID CYCLE, AND A PART CARRIED BY THE TIMER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST-MENTIONED PART TO MOVE IT SAID FURTHER DISTANCE UPON THE TERMINATION OF A PERIOD OF TIME PROPORTIONAL TO THE PREDETER- 